ENGIE has signed in Shanghai an Agreement for a 30% equity investment through a capital increase in UNISUN, a solar photovoltaic (PV) company. Since 2014, UNISUN has successfully developed around 500 MW PV projects, showing strong technical capacity. During COP21, China pledged to peak its carbon emissions in 2030 or earlier; the country shall subsequently increase the share of non-fossil energy from 13% to 20% in its energy mix by then.

ENGIE, a global energy player with the ambition to be a leader of the energy transition, sees the contribution to Chinese renewable energy development as mutually beneficial; and sees its role in China as supporting the transformation of China into a low-carbon economy. The company is aiming to support UNISUN in the field of photovoltaic business’ development, ownership, operation, as well as smart energy management in China. Forecasting fast growing business, UNISUN is targeting a development of around 4 GW PV projects (cumulated capacity) by 2020 in China.

He Yisha, President of UNISUN, stated: “The investment by the energy giant ENGIE into UNISUN demonstrates that the innovative business model and comprehensive service capacity of UNISUN is highly recognised. ENGIE’s strong support, in terms of experience, technology and resources will lead to a comprehensive upgrading of UNISUN capacity to achieve its vision to be a competent, innovative and integrated energy provider”.

Charlotte Roule, COO of ENGIE China declared: “This investment into UNISUN, which develops both projects of production on wholesale electricity market and projects for BtoB clients, represents for ENGIE the opportunity to step in the world biggest and most promising renewable power market. It demonstrates once again the ambition of ENGIE to be a leader of the energy transition in the world”.

ENGIE develops its businesses (power, natural gas, energy services) around a model based on responsible growth to take on the major challenges of energy’s transition to a low-carbon economy: access to sustainable energy, climate-change mitigation and adaptation and the rational use of resources. The Group formerly known as GDF-Suez provides individuals, cities and businesses with highly efficient and innovative solutions largely based on its expertise in four key sectors: renewable energy, energy efficiency, liquefied natural gas and digital technology. ENGIE employs 153,090 people worldwide and achieved revenues of over €65 billion in 2016. The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo (World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120 and France 20).

India is accelerating development of renewable energy projects to provide cheap, reliable and clean power to its 1.3 billion people. The country’s per-capita on-grid electricity consumption has increased significantly over the four years; due to increased industrial activity, higher uptake of electrical appliances by residential electricity users and the addition of new consumers to the grid. During this period, the cost of electricity from rooftop PV has halved, due to fierce competition in the market and a drop in equipment prices. In contrast, average retail electricity rates have increased by 22% in the same period. This has made rooftop PV cheaper than commercial and industrial grid tariffs in all major states in India.

World clean energy investment totalled $333.5 billion last year, up 3% from 2016 and the second highest annual figure ever, taking cumulative investment since 2010 to $2.5 trillion. An extraordinary boom in photovoltaic installations made 2017 a record year for China’s investment in clean energy. This outpaced changes elsewhere, including jumps in investment in Australia and Mexico, and declines in Japan, the U.K. and Germany. The figures up 3% from a revised $324.6 billion in 2016, and only 7% short of the record figure of $360.3 billion, in 2015.

Major shifts in the global energy landscape, particularly related to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources, mean that MEI expects global CO₂emissions to plateau by 2030. However, increased global energy demand means emissions will remain at more than double the level required for a 2 degrees Celsius warming pathway. Ole Rolser, Associate Partner and Solution Leader at MEI, comments: “Despite the significant momentum around EVs and renewable energy sources taking an increasing share of the power market, to realise the 2 degrees pathway scenario, we’d have to see much broader, much more disruptive change than what we’re seeing now.”

BP and Lightsource have announced a strategic partnership combining BP’s global scale with Lightsource’s solar expertise. BP will acquire 43% equity share in Lightsource for $200 million, with the majority of the investment funding Lightsource’s worldwide growth pipeline. The company will be renamed Lightsource BP. BP is not alone in moving away from oil and gas and towards clean energy. Anglo-Dutch Shell is purchasing electric car infrastructure companies, France’s Total is acquiring battery storage firms and Norway’s Statoil is pioneering floating wind farms.